CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: TAIYIN QI, SOLAR PURPLE QI

[Captured a wisp of Little Qing Spirit Qi, do you want to absorb it? Once absorbed, it cannot be replaced.]

The breeze gently blew as Chen Mo wandered through the deep mountains, only to find three kinds of Innate Spiritual Qi: Grass and Wood Spirit Qi, Little Qing Spirit Qi, and Water Spirit Qi.

Seeing no new Innate Spiritual Qi appearing, Chen Mo was eager to choose one of these three for absorption.

But a thought deep inside told him, don’t rush, don’t rush.

Just as he was thinking, Chen Mo suddenly felt a vicious wind sweeping in from afar.

He quickly drew the Tang Blade from its sheath, readying himself and watching the distance warily.

At that moment, a white tiger with upward-tilted eyes walked out from the bushes, its fur white with distinct black stripes, stretching a length of eight or nine feet from head to tail.

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes; this tiger seemed quite familiar.

He remembered now.

The first time he entered the mountains, he encountered a tiger just like this one.

"Roar." The tiger emitted a low growl, clearly eyeing Chen Mo.

Chen Mo smirked, sheathing the blade, then beckoned to the tiger.

This tiger hide must not be damaged; it was the perfect opportunity to test his strength after the breakthrough.

Unlike last time, the tiger hadn’t caught its prey today, and seeing a two-legged beast presenting itself, it had no intention of letting it go.

It had seen two-legged beasts a few times, and in its impression, these two-legged creatures were weak, some could not even withstand a single swipe.

Rather than attack immediately, it circled the two-legged beast once, believing it had found an opening, it suddenly pounced at its prey.

A few breaths later.

"Bang!"

Chen Mo executed an over-the-shoulder throw, slamming the five-hundred-pound tiger onto the ground, dust and leaves flying up.

The tiger was thrown into a daze, its head buzzing.

It couldn’t comprehend why this two-legged beast before it was so much more formidable than those it had previously met.

Yet, in the next instant, its vision went black.

Chen Mo knocked it out with a punch.

Chen Mo held back, not intending to kill it in the mountains; he planned to take it back for bleeding.

...

Unsure of how much time passed, when it awoke again, it instinctively let out a low growl, then heard two sharp screams before opening its eyes to see a sharp blade cutting across its throat.

Tiger blood trickled from its throat, flowing into the wooden basin below.

Chen Mo, holding the dagger, personally skinned the tiger.

Having watched Song Tian do it once, Chen Mo clumsily tried to recall the actions.

Han Anniang stood shielding Song Min, patting her chest with a trace of fear on her face: "Uncle, this big insect... how is it still alive?"

"I purposely left a breath, brought it back for bleeding," Chen Mo replied.

"Brother Mo is truly impressive." Zhang River wasn’t flattering; he genuinely grew more in awe of Chen Mo.

In Zhang River’s mind, the mountain tiger induced a stronger deterrent effect than Chen Mo killing Brother Hu and others.

Despite not being a professional, Chen Mo finally managed to skin the tiger after much effort, though tired, thankfully without damage.

Subsequently, he cut open the belly and individually stored the tiger heart, tiger gall, and tiger whip, planning to sell them along with the tiger skin in the county the next day.

...

That evening, in the living room.

"Uncle, do you have no appetite tonight?" Han Anniang asked, puzzled as she saw her uncle, previously eating with large bowls, now eating so little, then she picked up a piece of tiger meat and tasted it: "It’s quite good, though."

"Min’Er, Shui, why don’t you try some as well?" Han Anniang, concerned the dinner might not taste good, leading her uncle to eat less, suggested Song Min and Zhang River have a taste too.

"Delicious."

"Mrs. Han’s cooking surely lives up to its reputation."

Song Min and Zhang River both offered praise.

In fact, before absorbing any Innate Spiritual Qi, eating meat no longer offered Chen Mo any gains.

To conserve, Chen Mo decided not to feast until he understood the Innate Spiritual Qi and simply intended to fill his stomach each day.

"Sister-In-Law, I’ve had rich foods daily; these two days, I wish for something lighter," Chen Mo said.

...

At night, the moonlight was bright, still a full moon.

Han Anniang, who hadn’t seen a full moon in a long time, opened the window.

[Captured a wisp of Taiyin Qi, do you want to absorb it? Once absorbed, it cannot be replaced.]

The two sat on the kang, Chen Mo embracing Han Anniang’s waist from behind, gently inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair, initially contemplating how to tease Han Anniang, he was suddenly startled.

Taiyin Qi.

From the name itself, it was evident this Innate Spiritual Qi was exceptional, of a high-grade nature.

Chen Mo glanced at the full moon in the sky; this Taiyin Qi was certainly related to it.

Yet, until fully understanding it, Chen Mo decided not to absorb it.

But inwardly, he had already set his mind on the Taiyin Qi, planning to absorb it if he didn’t find the answers he sought when he went to town the next day.

"Uncle, such a beautiful full moon," Han Anniang murmured softly.

Hearing that, emotion surged within Chen Mo; he suddenly felt homesick.

However, he was no longer a sentimental person; seeking a change of mindset, Chen Mo gently pushed Han Anniang to lean on the windowsill.

"Sister-in-Law, it’s your turn to sing," he said.

"Uncle, don’t... close the window, close the window..."

A soft, charming, joyful, and coquettish voice suddenly echoed from the master bedroom.

In the dim night, the bright moon shone down gently, when suddenly, dark clouds veiled it, and a light drizzle began to fall from the sky, nurturing the grass grown on the courtyard wall with raindrops.

...

The next day, Chen Mo woke up early, dressed by Han Anniang, he stepped out of the house, pushed open the main gate, and the first light of dawn shone on his face.

[Captured a wisp of Solar Purple Qi, do you want to absorb it? Once absorbed, it cannot be replaced.]

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.

Solar Purple Qi!

This seemed even more high-grade.

"Brother Mo, you’re awake," Song Min, who was up even earlier, squatting by the kitchen entrance washing rice, greeted Chen Mo, then said: "Brother Mo, wait a moment, I’ll boil some water for you to wash your face."

"No need, Min’Er; I’m not that sensitive, cold water is fine," Chen Mo replied.

After brushing and rinsing, once breakfast was ready, Chen Mo ate a few bites, taking the tiger whip, tiger gall, tiger heart, and untreated tiger skin, along with the Tang Blade, he left the house.

He went to the Zhang Family, waking Zhang River to have him keep watch over things.

...

Reentering the city, Chen Mo noticed the entrance fee had risen to twenty cents.

City grain prices had also doubled.

The largest grain merchant in Pingting County was the Wang Family.

Outside the city, in Wang Family Manor, almost half the villagers were tenants of the Wang Family.

Yet, during the Qinghe Gang’s village raid, the Wang Family did not protect Wang Family Manor.

On the contrary, during this recruitment, the Wang Family Manor contributed the fewest people.

Originally, he intended to sell the tiger skin to Li Mu.

However, he found out the Li Family had moved out of Pingting County.